CN100503183C - Shaving razors and shaving cartridges with guards - Google Patents

Abstract

The razor blade unit (16) comprises a plastic housing having a front portion, a rear portion and two side surfaces (20) extending from the front portion to the rear portion. The housing has a length extending from one side to the other side. One or more shaving blades (28) are disposed between the front and rear surfaces of the housing, the blades having blade lengths extending along respective one or more parallel blade axes. A guard (22) at the front of the housing includes an elastomeric member (100) extending along a guard axis generally parallel to the respective one or more blade axes. The elastomeric member (100) has a length along the guard axis that is greater than or equal to the blade length.

Description

Razor and shaving cartridge with guard

technical field

The present invention relates to shaving cartridges, and more particularly to shaving cartridges with guards.

Background technique

In recent years, razors having cartridges with various numbers of blades and guards have been proposed in the patent literature and have been commercialized, for example, as described in US Pat. No. 5,787,586. This patent generally describes a design that has been commercialized by The Gillette Company as a three-bladed Mach III razor. The guard is located in front of the blades and is used to stretch the skin and prepare the hairs for shaving.

Contents of the invention

In one aspect, the invention generally features a shaving blade unit that includes a plastic housing having a front, a rear, and two sides extending from the front to the rear . The housing has a length extending from one side to the other. One or more razor blades are disposed between the front and rear surfaces of the housing, the blades having a blade length extending along respective one or more parallel blade axes (ie, the blade length exposed for cutting). The guard at the front of the housing includes an elastomeric member extending along a guard axis generally parallel to the respective one or more blade axes. The elastomeric member has a length along the guard axis that is greater than or equal to the blade length.

In another aspect, the invention features a shaving blade unit that includes a plastic housing having a front, a rear, and two sides extending from the front to the rear . The housing has a length extending from one side to the other. One or more shaving blades are disposed between the front and rear surfaces of the housing, the blades having a blade length extending along respective one or more parallel blade axes. The guard at the front of the housing includes an elastomeric member extending across at least one side along a guard axis parallel to the one or more blade axes.

In another aspect, the invention features a shaving blade unit that includes a plastic housing having a front, a rear, and two sides extending from the front to the rear . The housing has a length extending from one side to the other. One or more shaving blades are disposed between the front and rear surfaces of the housing, the blades having a blade length extending along respective one or more parallel blade axes. The guard carried on the front of the housing includes an elastomeric member extending along a guard axis parallel to the respective one or more blade axes. The guard has a width extending perpendicular to the guard axis beyond the width of the housing.

Aspects of the invention may include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the elastomeric member extends to the sides of the housing. The elastomeric member may extend across at least one side, and may extend across both sides. In some cases, the elastomeric member forms a protrusion extending outward from at least one side.

In some embodiments, the elastomeric member includes an elastomeric fin. In some cases, the elastomeric fin extends along a fin axis generally parallel to the respective one or more blade axes, the fin having a length along the fin axis that is greater than or equal to the blade length. In some cases, the fins have graduated lengths. The length of the fin closest to the blade may be greater than the blade length, and the fin length may decrease with increasing distance from the blade. In some cases, the fins have tips with increasing heights relative to a plane passing through an associated edge of the one or more razor blades. The height of the tip may increase as the fin approaches the blade. In some embodiments, at least some of the fins have tips above the plane, some of the fins have tips below the plane, and other fins have tips that are generally coherent relative to the plane. In certain embodiments, the fins have converging surfaces defining an included angle of between about 8 and 14 degrees. The distance from the first fin to the last fin may be between about 2.5 and 6 mm. The fins may have a tip height of between about 0.4 and 0.9 mm. In certain embodiments, the elastomeric member includes at least about 10 fins, such as about 15 fins or about 20 fins. In some cases, the fin extends within the housing defined by the elastomeric member along a fin axis parallel to the blade axis. When implemented, the elastomeric member defines a groove between the frame and the fins, the frame separating the ends of the one or more fins from the frame.

In some implementations, a clip is passed through an opening between the front and rear of the housing to hold one or more razor blades. In some cases, the first and second ends of the clip pass through respective first and second openings in the housing.

In some embodiments, the elastomeric member is flexible. In some cases, the leading portion of the elastomeric member protrudes beyond the leading edge of the front of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the guard axis and the blade axis. The guide portion may be substantially unsupported along its length. In some cases, the leading portion is sufficiently flexible to flex upon contact with the user's skin. In some implementations, the leading portion is sufficiently flexible to conform to the contours of the user's skin during shaving. The leading portion may be shaped to have a first thickness adjacent the sides of the housing and taper to a second thinner thickness adjacent the central region of the guard. In some cases, the thickness of the elastomeric member varies along the shield axis.

In many embodiments, the housing is connected to a pivot structure to allow the one or more blades to pivot relative to the handle. In some cases, a trim assembly is attached to the housing. The trimming assembly may include a trimming blade.

In other aspects, the invention also features a razor having a cartridge and a handle that may be releasably or permanently attached to the cartridge. Such razors may include any of the features described above. For example, in one aspect, the invention features a shaving razor that includes a handle and a shaving cartridge that includes attachment structure that attaches the cartridge to the handle. The shaving cartridge includes a plastic housing having a front, a rear, and two sides extending from the front to the rear. The housing has a length extending from one side to the other. One or more razor blades are disposed between the front and rear surfaces of the housing, the blades having a blade length extending along respective one or more parallel blade axes (ie, a blade length exposed for cutting). The guard at the front of the housing includes an elastomeric member extending along a guard axis generally parallel to the respective one or more blade axes. The elastomeric member has a length along the guard axis that is greater than or equal to the blade length.

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following advantages. The long elastomeric members and long fin design increase the skin contact area to tend to stretch and irritate the large area of skin in front of the blades. This tends to improve comfort and correct positioning of the skin when cutting the hair. In some embodiments, the elastomeric member and at least some of the fins are longer than the effective cutting length of the blade, thereby tending to prepare the shaved skin along a length of at least the effective cutting length. The fins may decrease in length from the fins closest to the blades to the fins furthest from the blades, and the fins may be surrounded by the frame, which improves the handling of the razor as the cartridge moves over the skin. By disconnecting the fins from the frame, the flexibility of the fins is increased.

Description of drawings

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments and from the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a razor.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the razor of Figure 1 with the cartridge removed from the handle.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the handle of FIG. 2. FIG.

Figure 3 is a front view of the cartridge of Figure 2 .

3A is a cross-sectional view of the elastomeric member of FIG. 3 taken along line A-A in FIG. 3 .

3B is a rear view of the cartridge of FIG. 3 .

3C and 3D are perspective views of the cartridge of FIG. 3 .

4 is a front view of a cartridge housing including an elastomeric member.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 3 taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the clip of FIG. 5 .

7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the relative positions of some components of the cartridge of FIG. 1 .

8 is a top view of the cutting member of the cartridge of FIG. 3 .

FIG. 9 is a front view of the cutting member of FIG. 8 .

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cutting member of FIG. 8 .

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the cutting member of FIG. 8 .

Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view of a prior art cutting member.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the blade unit of the razor of Figure 1 with the main blade removed.

14 is a plan view of the trimming assembly of the blade unit of FIG. 13 .

FIG. 15 is a rear elevation view of the trimming assembly of FIG. 14. FIG.

16 is a bottom view of the trimming assembly of FIG. 14. FIG.

17 is a front elevation view of the trimming assembly of FIG. 14. FIG.

18 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the blade unit housing of FIG. 3 taken along line 18-18 in FIG. 16 .

19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the blade unit of FIG. 3 taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 16 .

20 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the blade unit of FIG. 3 taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 16 .

Figure 21 is a perspective view of the blade unit of Figure 3 with the blades removed.

22 is a perspective view of the rear of the housing of the blade unit of FIG. 3 .

Fig. 23 is a sectional view of the blade unit of Fig. 3 .

24 is a rear perspective view of the housing including the elastomeric member of FIG. 4 .

25 is an end view of the housing including the elastomeric member of FIG. 24 .

Figure 26 is a front view of the cartridge of Figure 3 .

Fig. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the blade unit of Fig. 3 when pressed against the skin.

28 is an exploded view of the handle of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 28A is a detail view of some components of FIG. 28 in area A. FIG.

29 and 30 are front and side views, respectively, of the handle interconnecting member.

31 to 33 are top, front and side views, respectively, of the release button.

34 and 35 are front and cross-sectional views of the plunger.

36 to 38 are rear, front and top views, respectively, of the connecting member.

Figure 37A is a detail view of a finger in the connecting member of Figures 36-38.

Figure 39 is a cross-sectional view of the handle including the connecting member through line 39 in Figure 2A.

Figure 40 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of Figure 3.

41 is a cross-sectional view of the handle of FIG. 2A connected to the connecting member of FIGS. 36-38.

41A is a cross-sectional view of the handle of FIG. 2A through line 41-41 showing the release button activated to disconnect the cartridge from the handle.

42 and 43 are cross-sectional views of the handle of Fig. 2A through line 42-42 showing the release button of Figs. 31 to 33 in their rest and actuated positions, respectively.

44 is a cross-sectional view of the handle housing including the release button.

Figure 45 is a side view of the razor of Figure 1 as it is pressed against the skin during a trimming operation.

Figure 46 is a front view of the razor of Figure 1 .

47A is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 3 in the rest position and the compression bar of FIGS. 34 and 35 , and FIG. 47B is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 3 in the fully rotated position and the compression bar of FIGS. 34 and 35 .

Detailed ways

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a shaving razor 10 includes a disposable cartridge 12 and a handle 14 (Figure 2A). The cartridge 12 includes a connecting member 18 detachably connecting the cartridge 12 to the handle 14 and a blade unit 16 pivotably connected to the connecting member 18 . 3, 3C and 3D, the blade unit 16 includes a plastic housing 20, a guard 22 in front of the housing 20, a top cover 24 with a lubricating strip 26 behind the housing 20, between the guard 22 and the top cover 24 The five blades 28 are connected to the trimming blade assembly 30 ( FIG. 3C ) behind the housing 20 by clips 32 , and the trimming blade assembly also holds the blades 28 in the housing 20 .

4, which shows the blade unit 16 with the blade removed, the housing 20 of the blade unit 16 has an inwardly facing slot 33 for receiving a blade support 400 in the side wall 34 (see FIG. 7 ) end. The housing 20 also has a corresponding pair of resilient arms 36 projecting from the side walls on which each blade 28 is resiliently supported. The blade 28 is located in a relatively unobstructed area between the side walls 34, for example, to facilitate cleaning of the cartridge during use.

Referring back to FIG. 3 , the cap 24 provides a smooth shaving aid and is received in a slot 38 ( FIG. 4 ) at the rear of the housing 20 . Cap 24 may be made of a material comprising a mixture of a hydrophobic material and a hydrophilic polymeric material that filters water, as is known in the art and described, for example, in US Patent Nos. 5,113,585 and 5,454,164, which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIGS. 3 , 3B, 3C and 3D , clips 32 are secured within side walls 34 near corresponding sides of housing 20 . Each clip 32 passes through a pair of slots 40 and 42 (FIG. 4) located between a front edge 44 and a rear edge 46 of the blade unit 16 (see also FIG. 4). Preferably, clip 32 is made of 5052-H16 aluminum and is about 0.3 mm thick. As described in more detail below, by having the clips 32 inboard from the front and rear edges 44, 46 of the blade unit 16, the clips interfere less with certain shaving features of the razor 10. In addition, the clip 32 can be very securely mounted to the housing 20 by passing the clip 32 through the slots 40 and 42 in the housing 20 and bending the legs 50 and 52 to the desired curvature.

Referring now to FIG. 5 , clip 32 retains blade 28 within housing 20 as described above. The clip 32 also positions the edge 408 of the spring biased blade 28 in the desired exposed position when in the rest position. Legs 50 and 52 of clip 32 are passed through slots 40 and 42 respectively and wrapped around the bottom of housing 20 .

It can be seen from FIG. 5 that the distance D ₁ of the legs 50 passing through the shell 20 is greater than the distance D ₂ of the legs 52 passing through the shell. This is due in part to the fact that trimming blade assembly 30 is located at the rear of housing 20 and is also secured to housing 20 by clip 32 . Referring now to FIG. 6 , legs 50 and 52 include straighter portions 54 , 56 extending through housing 20 and form more curved portions 66 , 68 (eg, by crimping metal clips over surfaces 61 , 63 , 65 , and 67 ). and beyond their elastic limit) multiple bends 58, 60, 62 and 64. The bends 58 , 60 , 62 and 64 generally correspond to the shape of the housing 20 to impart a desired curvature to the legs 50 and 52 of the clip 32 . The discontinuity in curvature of legs 50 and 52 tends to inhibit straightening of the legs. As shown, _I1 (measured from vertical 53) is between about 91 and 93 degrees, such as about 92.2 degrees, and _I2 (measured from horizontal 55) is between about 42 and 44 degrees, such as about 43 degrees, _I3 (measured from vertical 57) between about 91 and 94 degrees, such as about 92.4, and _I4 (measured from horizontal 59) between about 19 and 22 degrees, such as about 20.4 Spend. The leg curvature is defined herein as the sum of the angles I of the individual bends. Since the sum of I ₁ and I ₂ is greater than the sum of I ₃ and I ₄ , leg 50 has a greater curvature than leg 52 . However, both legs 50 and 52 have a curvature greater than 90 degrees. As shown, leg 50 has a curvature (ie, I ₁ plus I ₂ ) of about 135 degrees (preferably between about 91 and 150 degrees), while leg 52 has a curvature of about 113 degrees (preferably between about 91 degrees). degrees and 130 degrees) of curvature (ie, I ₃ plus I ₄ ). The straight portions 54 , 56 of the legs 50 , 52 form a projected angle θ with the end portions 71 and 73 . In the illustrated embodiment, smaller Θ is preferred, such as not greater than about 80 degrees. As shown, θ ₁ is about 47 degrees and θ ₂ is about 70 degrees. The legs 50, 52 can also be overbent to preload the clip 32 against the housing, thus providing additional security of securing thereto. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the bend 60 applies a lesser load to the housing 20 at the point of contact 73 between the bend 60 and the housing.

Passing the clip 32 through the housing and bending the legs 50 and 52 provides several advantages. For example, a wider blade unit 16 may be provided without substantially increasing the length of the clip 32 because the clip 32 is positioned inboard of the blade unit front and rear edges 44 , 46 . This is in contrast to, for example, US Patent 6,035,537 which employs metal clips wrapped around the perimeter of the housing and over the front and back of the blade unit. In addition, straight portions 54 and 56 of legs 50 and 52 are relatively enclosed within slots 40 and 42 of housing 20 and curve over the housing in steeper bends (ie, bends with shorter bend radii). This curved geometry can provide a very secure connection of the clip 32 to the housing 20, making it difficult to remove the clip 32 from the slots 40 and 42 without breaking the clip. Furthermore, by forming the metal clip 32 and bending the metal sharply, it may be difficult to pull the clip enough to pull the bent portions 66 , 68 through the slots 40 , 42 . As another example, the arrangement of the inner clips facilitates the use of longer and wider guards, as described in more detail below.

Referring to Figures 7 to 12, it can be seen that each elongated blade 28 is supported on a respective elongated curved support 400 having an elongated lower base portion 402, an elongated curved portion 404 and the blade 28 is An elongated platform portion 406 rests thereon. Blade span is defined as the distance from the blade to the skin contacting element directly in front of the blade measured along a tangent extending between the element and the blade. The cutting edge 406 of each blade is separated from the cutting edge 408 of the adjacent blade by the inter-blade span S2=S3=S4=S5; the inter-blade span is between 0.95mm and 1.15mm, preferably between 1.0mm and 1.1mm , and most preferably about 1.05 mm. Blade exposure is defined as the vertical distance or height of the adjacent cutting edge front and adjacent cutting edge rear relative to a plane tangent to the skin contacting surface of the blade unit element. Since the blades all rest against the clip 32 when at rest, they lie in a common plane so that the exposure of the three middle blades is zero. The front blade 28 has a negative exposure of -0.04 mm, while the last blade 28 has a positive exposure. Reducing the exposure of the first blade and increasing the exposure of the last blade provides improved shaving performance as described in US Patent 6,212,777. The span S1 from the front crosspiece 409 to the edge of the front blade 28 is 0.65 mm, and the distance SC from the edge of the last blade 28 to the tangent point on the lubricating strip 26 of the top cover 24 is 3.16 mm.

Increasing the number of blades tends to ideally distribute the compressive force of the blades against the skin, but if the span remains constant, the area occupied by the blades increases, creating potential difficulties for maneuverability and pruning. Reducing the span for increasing the number of blades tends to advantageously reduce the total area occupied by the blades and reduce the protrusion of the skin between the blades, resulting in a potential improvement in comfort. However, reducing the span can reduce rinsability and reduce the ability to remove shavings from the blade area. Among five-blade razors, the lower end of the 0.95mm span provides good comfort, but increases potential problems associated with removing shavings, while the upper end of the 1.15mm span provides good removal of shavings, but introduces skin protruding potential problems, thus reducing comfort, so that values in the span range, and specifically values closer to the most preferred span of 1.05mm, provide a good balance between reduced size and good comfort, while maintaining Enough rinseability to avoid beard dandruff problems. The distance ST from the first cutting edge 408 to the last cutting edge 408 is four times the span between the blades, so is between 3.8mm and 4.6mm, preferably between 4.0mm and 4.4mm, most preferably about 4.2mm , that is between 4.1mm and 4.3mm.

8 to 12, the blade 28 is attached to the platform portion 406 by thirteen spot welds 410 applied by laser melting the metal of the blade 28 at the weld area WA to create molten metal that cools. A weld 410 to the platform portion 406 is formed. The weld area WA is the connection area where the blade is fixed to the platform part. The land WA is located within the flat portion FP of the platform portion 406 . The blade length LB from the blade edge 408 to the blade tip 450 is less than 1 mm, preferably less than 0.9 mm, and most preferably about 0.85 mm. The blade 28 has a uniform thickness portion 412 supported on the platform portion 406 and a tapered portion 412 that protrudes from the front end 452 of the platform portion 406 .

The elongated curved metal support 400 is made of metal having a thickness (dimension T) between 0.01 cm (0.004 ") and 0.023 cm (0.009 "), preferably a metal thickness between 0.013 cm (0.005 ") and 0.018 cm. cm (0.007"), and most preferably a metal thickness of about 0.015cm (0.006"). The length LP of the platform portion 406 from its front end 452 to the curved portion 404 is less than 0.7mm, preferably less than 0.6mm, and most preferably about 0.55 mm. Curved portion 404 has an inner radius of curvature R of less than 0.1 mm, preferably less than 0.09 mm, and most preferably less than 0.08 mm. The angle between base portion 402 and platform portion 406 is between 108 and 115 degrees , preferably between 110 degrees and 113 degrees, and most preferably about 111.5 degrees.

Since the sloped support 400 is cut and formed from thinner metal, this advantageously provides a reduced radius of curvature R, allowing a greater percentage of the platform portion to be flat. The use of thinner material for the support body also benefits the ability to provide a greater percentage of flat deck area after forming. A flat area of minimum size is required to accurately and reliably support the blade 28, and its uniform thickness portion 412 is of reduced length due to its shorter length. A shorter uniform thickness portion 412 can be employed while still maintaining the necessary precise blade support because the extent of the curved area of the platform portion 406 outside of the flat area FA has been reduced. Such precise blade support is necessary to provide the blade geometry required for the desired shaving performance.

Referring to FIG. 13 , trimming blade assembly 30 is secured to the back of housing 20 and includes blade carrier 502 and trimming blade 504 mounted thereon. Blade carrier 502 is fabricated from 0.028 cm (0.011") thick sheet of stainless steel metal cut and shaped to provide a structure that supports trimming blade 504 , defines trimming guard and cap surfaces, and is thus attached to housing 20 .

Referring to FIGS. 13 to 19 , the blade carrier 502 has a rear wall 506 , upper protrusions 508 , 510 that are bent to extend forwardly at both ends from the top of the rear wall 506 , curved to extend along the rear wall A lower wall 512 extending forward the length of the rear wall 506, and two lateral sides 514, 516, each of which consists of a lateral protrusion 518 that is bent to extend forward from the corresponding side at one end of the rear wall 506 and is bent to Vertical protrusions 520 extending upward from corresponding ends of the lower wall 512 are formed.

A central portion of the rear wall 506 is open at its lower portion to provide a gap 522 between a lower terminal surface 526 of the rear wall 506 and a trim guard 528 extending upwardly from the lower wall 512 . At both ends of the terminal surface 526 two alignment surfaces 530 are arranged at a precise distance from the bottom of the terminal surface 526 . Trimming blade 504 is welded to inner surface 532 of rear wall 506 by thirteen spot welds 534 , with cutting edge 536 of trimming blade 504 aligned with alignment surface 530 . All edges around the gap 524 that will come into contact with the user's skin are rounded to provide a radius of curvature of 0.2 mm so that the user does not feel the edges.

13 and 15-20 , gap 522 exposes cutting edge 536 of trimming blade 504 . Perhaps best seen in FIG. 19 , the rear wall 506 and its lower terminal surface 526 provide a trimming cap 535 for the trimming blade 504 and its cutting edge 536 and define the exposure of the trimming blade 504 . Referring to Figures 13 and 20, two skin protection protrusions 537 spaced apart at both ends protrude into the space behind the tangent from the trimming blade 536 to the trimming guard 528 to limit the user's skin from protruding into the trimming area. The amount in the space between the blade 536 and the trim guard 528 .

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 16 , upper projections 508 and 510 have upper slots 538 , while lower wall 512 has alignment slots 540 that receive clips 32 for securing trimming blade assembly 30 to housing 20 . Referring to FIGS. 13 and 16 , the lower wall 512 also has a notch 542 for mating with a protrusion 544 on the housing 20 to facilitate aligning and holding the assembly 30 in place on the housing 20 .

Referring to Figures 13, 16, 18, 19, 21 and 22, the lower wall also has four debris removal slots 546 aligned with four recessed debris removal channels 548 on the housing 20 to allow shaving Clear from the area behind and below the blade 536 during scraping.

In manufacture, the blade carrier 506 is cut and formed from sheet metal. The trimming blade 504 is then placed against the inner surface 532, wherein the blade 536 is aligned with the alignment surface 530 with an automatic placement member, and then secured to the inner surface 532 by spot welding 534 so that the trimming blade 536 is positioned relative to the trimming guard 528 and the trimming The top cover 534 is in a precise position. The trimming assembly 30 is then placed on the back of the housing 20 by sliding it forward through the rear of the housing 20 so that the notch 542 on the lower wall 512 is aligned with the protrusion 544 on the housing 20 . Simultaneously, when the assembly 30 is moved forward to the back of the housing 20, the upper deformation block 552 and the lower deformation block 554 (FIG. deformed by the compressive force. Assembly 30 is then secured to housing 20 by clips 32 that pass through upper and lower slots 538, 540 on blade carrier 506 and through aligned slots 40, 42 of housing 20 (FIG. 4).

Because clip 32 passes through slot 538 , clip 32 makes electrical contact with blade carrier 506 . Since the clip, blade carrier, and trimming blade are all made of metal (typically, the trimming blade and blade carrier are made of stainless steel, while the clip is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy), the clip is also in electrical contact with the trimming blade 504 . A clip 32 is also in electrical contact with each blade 28 . The clip thus forms an anode-cathode cell with the blade and the trimming blade, with the clip acting as a sacrificial anode. Thus, if the razor is exposed to a corrosive environment, the clips will corrode, while the razor blades and trimmer blades will act as cathodes that are protected from corrosion. This sacrificial action of the clip is advantageous because erosion of the blade's edge would be a safety hazard for the user, while corrosion of the clip would be unsightly and most likely a reminder to the user to remove the blade before further injury could occur. Rack discarded.

Referring back to FIG. 3 , the guard 22 includes a flexible elastomeric member 100 that extends to and across the sides 34 . The elastomeric member 100 forms a protrusion 101 that can mate with a dispenser (not shown) to secure the cartridge therein (eg, for storage and/or shipping). Details of the protrusion 101 and dispenser can be found in the pending US patent application, entitled "Dispensers for Razor Blade Cartridges", filed on the same date as this application, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Elastomeric member 100 includes a plurality of fins 114, discussed in detail below, which tend to stimulate and stretch the skin in front of blades 28, thereby lifting and properly positioning the user's hair for shaving.

Elastomeric member 100 is supported by housing 20 along rear 102 and sides 104 . Referring now to FIG. 23 , the front or leading portion 106 of the elastomeric member 100 extends beyond the leading portion 108 of the housing 20 and is substantially unsupported by the housing 20 along its length. The leading portion 106 of the elastomeric member is relatively flexible and is capable of flexing upon contact with the user's skin. In some cases, leading portion 106 is sufficiently flexible to conform to the contours of the user's skin during use. This conformability to the user's skin will tend to increase the surface area of the elastomeric member in contact with the user's skin, thereby enhancing stretching of the skin, and will also tend to more evenly distribute the force applied by the user during shaving. The deflection of the leading portion also tends to cause the fins 114 to bias toward each other when in contact with the skin, thereby increasing the friction between the fin tips and the skin, thereby increasing the stretching of the skin. To further improve the flexibility of elastomeric member 100, the thickness of elastomeric member 100 varies along its length. As can be seen in FIGS. 24 and 25 , the leading edge 110 of the leading portion 106 of the elastomeric member 100 has a first thickness _t1 adjacent the side 34 of the housing and tapers to a second, thinner thickness t adjacent the central region of the elastomeric member 100. ₂ .

Referring again to FIG. 3 and to FIG. 3D , the elastomeric member 100 includes a set 112 of resilient fins 114 within a housing 115 . The frame 115 provides a continuous elastomeric surface around the perimeter of the fins. The surface can improve tracking of the cartridge during shaving and can enhance the stretching of the skin and the tactile properties provided by the elastomeric member. Still referring to FIG. 3A , a groove 116 is provided between the concave wall 118 of the frame 115 and the tip 120 of the fin 114 . When the guide portion 106 is flexed, this groove 116 allows the fins to flex, eg close together, rather than being fixed at their ends, which would be the case if the fins were joined to the frame 115 at their ends. situation. However, if desired, the fins could be bonded to the frame, or the frame 115 could be omitted and the fins could extend the entire length of the guard.

In the illustrated embodiment, set 112 includes 15 fins. Typically, the elastomeric member may include fewer or more fins (eg, between about 10 and 20 fins). For a given segment pitch and fin geometry, more fins will generally provide greater skin stretch for a closer shave; however beyond a certain number of fins, skin stretch does not tend to increase (or Increased skin stretching is not required), and the elastomeric member may become too wide, making it difficult for the user to shave in the tensioned zone.

Referring back to FIG. 23 , the height of the tips 120 of the elastomeric fins 114 increases along a curve from the fin furthest from the blade 28 to the fin closest to the blade 28 . Some of the tips 120 lie below a plane 122 passing through the edge 48 of the blade 28 and some of the tips 120 lie above the plane 122 . The increasing height of the fins 114 tends to gradually increase the contact with the skin. The increased height also allows the tip to conform to the skin during shaving. The fins 114 have a tip-to-base height "h" of 0.4 to 0.9 mm and a narrow profile, i.e., the fins define an included angle θ of less than about 14 degrees (preferably between about 14 and 8 degrees, such as about 11 Spend). The fins 114 are spaced at a center-to-center pitch of between about 0.14 and 0.57 mm, eg 0.284 mm, and their thickness at the base is between about 0.1 and 0.4 mm, eg 0.217 mm. The distance at the base from the front of the first fin 114a to the back of the last fin 114b is about 4 mm. Alternatively, the distance may be between about 2.5 and 6mm. A narrow fin profile θ, such as 8 to 14 degrees, improves fin flexibility, which helps stretch the skin, thereby preparing the hair for an improved shave.

Referring now to FIG. 26, by extending to and past the sides 34, the elastomeric member 100 has a length L _e measured between the sides 34, (preferably between about 34mm and about 47mm, such as about 42.5mm), which is greater than Each blade 28 has a greater blade length _Lb (preferably between about 33mm and about 46mm, such as about 34.4mm), where _Lb is measured between inner jaw edges 124 and 126 . The length of the elastomeric member provides good skin stretch and enhances the tactile properties of the razor. Le _may , for example, be between about 0 and 36%, such as 23.5%, longer than L _b . Fin 114 has a fin length L _f measured along fin axis 128 substantially parallel to blade axis 130 . It can be seen that the fin length L _f gradually increases from the fin furthest from the blade 28 to the fin closest to the blade 28 . At least some (or all) of the fins 120 have L _f greater than L _b . This array of increasing lengths along the frame 116 improves maneuverability along the contours of the skin.

The material forming the elastomeric member 100 can be selected as desired. Preferably, the elastomeric member is made of an elastomeric material, such as a block copolymer (or other suitable material), for example having a Shore A hardness of between 28 and 60. Preferably, the fins 114 are also made of a softer material, such as having a Shore A hardness of between 28 and 60 (eg, between about 40 and 50, such as between about 40 and 45). When the value is increased beyond this range, performance may tend to deteriorate, and when the value is decreased below this range, there may be production problems. As shown, the fins and elastomeric member are integrally formed from the same material. In other cases, the fins and elastomeric members are made of different materials. The method of securing the elastomeric member 100 to the housing 20 can also be selected as desired. Suitable methods include, for example, gluing, welding, and molding (eg, integral molding or two-shot molding) the elastomeric member to the housing 20 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the blade unit 16 is pivotally mounted on the connecting member 18 . Connecting member 18 is configured to receive handle connection structure 11 on handle 14 in releasable engagement, as will be discussed in detail below in the "Cartridge/Handle Connection" section. Blade unit 16 is rotatable about pivot 70 relative to handle 14 and connecting member 18 due to the cooperating pivot structure provided by housing 20 and connecting member 18 .

Referring to FIGS. 36 to 38 , the connection member 18 has a main body 140 and a pair of cantilevered arms 142 and 144 protruding outward from the main body 140 . Fingers 150 and 152 extend from U-shaped ends 146 and 148 of arms 142 and 144 . Fingers 150 and 152 are pivotally connected to blade unit 16, for example by being inserted into openings in the back of housing 20 (FIG. 3B), and allow blade unit 16 to rotate about axis 70 (FIG. 23) relative to connecting member 18. . Referring to detail view 37A showing a side view of fingers 150, fingers 150 and 152 each include projecting distal ends 151 and 153 which define endpoints A, B, C of two concentric arcs 155 and 157 , D, these two coaxial circular arcs form the supporting surface where the connecting member 18 and the housing 20 are connected. These arcuate surfaces fit (with clearance) into mating arcuate receptors (not shown) on the cartridge housing 20 and are pivotable. The smaller arc 155 is loaded when the blade unit 16 is pivoted. The larger arc 157 is under load when the blades 28 are cutting during shaving.

Still referring to FIG. 40, each finger includes stop surfaces 154 and 156 (FIG. 38). Stop surfaces 154 and 156 are engageable with cooperating stop surfaces 158 and 160 (FIG. 40) of blade unit 16 to limit rotation of the blade unit. As shown in Figure 40, the stop surfaces 154, 156, 158, 160 inhibit normal rotation of the blade unit 16 beyond an angle K of about 41 degrees, where the spring biased rest position is zero degrees. Surfaces 156 and 160 also provide a stop that inhibits rotation during trimming operations with trimming blade 504 .

Referring to Fig. 37, the end faces 146 and 148 serve as load-bearing structures in the event of over-rotation of the blade unit 16 relative to the connecting member 18. Such over-rotation may occur, for example, if the user drops the razor. As shown in FIG. 40, when the blade unit is rotated by an angle ω greater than k (eg, greater than 41 degrees, between about 42 degrees and 45 degrees, such as about 43 degrees), the housing 20 can contact the end surfaces 146 and 148 . By providing these load bearing structures, loads can be transferred to the end faces 146, 148 and cantilevers 142, 144, thereby relieving stress on the fingers 150, 152 (eg, preventing finger breakage).

Referring again to FIG. 1 , the blade unit 16 is biased toward the vertical rest position (as shown in FIG. 1 ) by means of a spring biased plunger 134 . The rounded distal end 139 of the plunger 134 contacts the cartridge housing at a location spaced from the pivot 70 at the cam surface 216 ( FIG. 47 ) to impart a biasing force to the housing 20 . Having the plunger/housing contact point spaced from the pivot 70 provides leverage so that the spring biased plunger returns the blade unit 16 to its vertical rest position when the load is removed. This leverage also allows the blade unit 16 to pivot freely between its upright and fully loaded positions in response to varying loads applied by the user.

Referring now to Figures 47A and 47B, as the blade unit 16 is rotated relative to the handle, the point of contact between the plunger 134 and the cam surface 216 changes. The horizontal distance d ₁ and the direct distance l ₁ are each at a minimum at point X when the blade unit 16 is in the spring-biased rest position. d ₁ is measured along a horizontal line perpendicular to pivot 70 and parallel to plane 122 . And when the blade unit 16 is in the fully rotated position, the horizontal distance d ₂ is also measured along a horizontal line perpendicular to the pivot 70 and parallel to the plane 122 . The direct distances 1 ₂ each reach a maximum at the contact point Y. In the illustrated embodiment, d ₁ is about 0.9 mm, l ₁ is about 3 mm, d ₂ is about 3.5 mm, and l ₂ is about 5 mm. Alternatively, d ₁ may be between about 0.8 and 1.0 mm, l ₁ may be between about 2.5 and 3.5 mm, d ₂ may be between about 3 and 4 mm, and l ₂ may be between about Between 4.5 and 5.5mm.

When the blade unit 16 is rotated from its rest position, the force exerted by the pressure lever 134 causes an increased torque about the pivot, at least in part due to the increase in the horizontal distance between the point of contact and the pivot 70 and the rotation of the pressure lever 134. to an orientation more perpendicular to the cam surface 216 . In some embodiments, the minimum torque applied by the spring biased plunger, eg in the rest position, is at least about 1.5 N-mm, eg about 2 N-mm. In some cases, the maximum torque applied by the plunger, such as at full rotation, is about 6 N-mm or less, such as about 3.5 N-mm.

Referring now to FIG. 23 , the connecting member 18 is connected to the housing 20 such that the pivot 70 is located below the plane 122 (eg, within the housing 20 ) and in front of the blade 28 . Placing the pivot 70 in front of the blade 28 is sometimes referred to as a "front pivot" arrangement.

The position of the pivot 70 along the width W of the blade unit 16 determines how the cartridge will pivot and how the pressure applied by the user during shaving will be transferred to the user's skin and distributed to the razor cartridge on the surface area. For example, if the pivot is located behind the blade and closer to the front edge of the housing such that the pivot is significantly spaced from the center of the width of the housing, the blade unit may tend to exhibit a "back" when the user applies pressure to the skin through the handle. put". "Swing back" refers to the tendency of the wider blade carrier portion of the blade unit to swing away from the skin as the user applies more pressure. Positioning the pivot point in this manner generally results in a safe shave, but may tend to make it more difficult for the user to adjust the closeness of the shave to the skin by varying the pressure applied.

In the blade unit 16, the distance between the pivot and the front edge of the blade unit is long enough to balance the blade holder about the pivot. By balancing the cartridge in this manner, back swing is minimized while still providing the safety benefits of a front pivot arrangement. Since the additional pressure applied by the user will be distributed more evenly between the blade and the elastomeric member rather than being primarily transmitted to the blade, as would be the case in a center pivot arrangement (the blade unit has a pivot between the blades), So security is guaranteed. Preferably, the distance from the front of the blade unit to the pivot is sufficiently close to the distance from the rear of the blade unit to the pivot so that pressure applied to the skin by the blade unit 16 is more evenly distributed during use. The pressure distribution during shaving can be predicted by computer modeling.

Referring to FIG. 23 , the projection distance W _f is closer to the projection distance W _r . Preferably, _Wf is within 45%, such as within 35%, of _Wr . In some cases, W _r is substantially equal to W _f . Preferably, _Wf is at least about 3.5 mm, more preferably between 5.5 and 6.5 mm, such as about 6 mm. W _r is typically less than about 11 mm (eg, between about 11 mm and 9.5 mm, such as about 10 mm).

A measure of cartridge balance is the ratio of the projected distance _Wr between the rear of the blade unit 16 and the pivot 70 to the projected distance W between the front and rear of the blade unit 16, each along a direction parallel to the housing axis 217 ( FIG. 3 ), the axis being perpendicular to pivot 70 . This ratio can also be expressed as a percentage and is called "Front Weight Percent".

Referring now to FIG. 27 , the blade unit 16 is shown applying weight to the skin 132 . The blade unit is powered by applying a normal force F perpendicular to the pivot 70 (i.e., applied by the user through the handle 14 and ignoring other forces, such as the force exerted by the spring-biased pressure rod 134 shown in FIG. 39 ). 16 Apply the load. Preferably, the weight percentage borne along _Wf (or frontal weight percentage) is at most about 70% (eg, between about 50% and about 70%, such as about 63%) of the total weight borne by the blade unit 16 .

By balancing the cartridge, during use, the weight borne by the front portion 136 along _Wf and the weight borne by the rear portion 138 along _Wr is more evenly distributed, which corresponds to the weight applied to the shaving surface during shaving. More even distribution of pressure. Additionally, more weight is transferred to the rear portion 138 of the cartridge 12 where the blades 28 are located during use, thereby inhibiting back swing of the rear portion 138, which provides a closer shave.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connecting member 18 removably connects the blade unit 16 to the handle connecting structure 11 on the handle 14 .

Referring to Figures 2, 2A and 41 (for the sake of clarity, Figure 41 omits the pressing rod, button and spring), in order to connect the connecting member 18 and the handle 14, the user pushes the handle connecting structure 11 forward into the rear end of the connecting member 18 middle. The handle connection structure includes a body 167 from which a protrusion 166 protrudes. The protrusion 166 is positioned so that it is received by the opening 178 in the connection member 18 . When the protrusion 166 is inserted into the opening, the pins 162 and 164 on the connecting member flex elastically to receive the distal end 180 of the protrusion 166 . When the pins 162 and 164 clear the outer edges 188 and 190 of the distal end 180 of the protrusion 166, the pins 162 and 164 resume their original, unflexed position as they engage the sides 182 and 184 of the protrusion (FIG. 39 ).

Referring to FIG. 41A , to disconnect the cartridge 12 from the handle 14 , the user can activate the spring-biased release button 196 by pressing the button 196 forward relative to the handle housing 170 . Pushing the button 196 forward extends the push lever arms 192 and 194 into engagement with the latches 162 and 164 of the connecting member 18 . This engagement force breaks the interference fit between the latches 162, 164 and the protrusion 166 to release the cartridge 12 from the handle 14, as will be described in more detail below.

Referring now to FIG. 39 , which shows the cartridge 12 and handle 14 connected, the latches 162 and 164 of the connecting member 18 have corresponding free distal ends 174 , 176 that engage the sloped sides 182 and 184 of the protrusion 166 . The sides 182 and 184 taper from the larger distal end 180 to the smaller base 186 forming a projected top angle I (eg, between about 45 and 60 degrees, such as about 52 degrees). The tapering of sides 182 and 184 inhibits accidental disengagement of cartridge 12 from handle 14 (eg, due to forces applied to the rear of blade unit 16 during trimming operations). The engagement of the side flats 182 and 184 with the flat edges of the distal ends 174 , 176 of the latches 162 and 164 also inhibits rotational movement of the connection member 18 relative to the handle connection 11 .

Referring to Figures 36-38, the connecting member 18 includes a body 140 from which protrudes 162 and 164 extend. Body 140 has an arcuate profile to mate with body 167 having a corresponding arcuate profile (FIG. 29). The body 140 and body 167 are also asymmetrically shaped when viewed from the front to assist the user in connecting the cartridge 12 to the handle 14 in the correct orientation. For example, referring to Fig. 36, body 140 may be generally D-shaped when viewed from the front, while body 167 may have a corresponding D-shape. These corresponding arcuate asymmetric profiles also inhibit relative rotation of the connection member 18 and the handle connection structure 11 .

The latches 162 and 164 generally extend generally along a contour from the wall 172 of the body 140 to opposite free distal ends 174 and 176 . Each distal end 174 and 176 forms part of an opening 178 extending through wall 172 to receive protrusion 166 . Still referring to FIG. 29 , the opening 178 is smaller than the distal end 180 of the protrusion 166 . Accordingly, the width _W of the protruding distal end is preferably between about 4 mm and 7 mm, such as about 5.6 mm, while the width W _o between the free distal ends 174 and 176 of the pins 162 and 164 is preferably between about 3 mm and 7 mm. Between 6mm, such as about 4.8mm.

Referring now to FIGS. 29 , 30 and 39 , two slots 177 and 179 extend through the body 167 on opposite sides of the protrusion 166 . A third slot 181 extends through the body 167 to the distal end 180 of the protrusion 166 . Slots 177 and 179 receive pusher arms 192 and 194, respectively, extending from release button 196, while slot 181 receives plunger 134 (FIG. 39). Referring to Figures 29 and 30, a pair of locking arms 171 and 173 protrude from the rear of the main body 167, and they help to secure the main body 167 to the handle housing 170 and guide member 169, which helps in releasing the button. 196 is directed when it is activated.

Referring now to FIGS. 31 to 33 and 39 , the push lever arms 192 and 194 are formed as an integral part of the release button 196 . The release button 196 also includes latch arms 204 and 206, a cylindrical extension 202 sized to receive the spring 205, and a button base 198 from which the push rod arm, latch arm, and cylindrical extension extend. The elastomeric cover 200 extends around the perimeter of the button base to fill the gap between the button base and the surrounding handle housing, which is necessary to allow sufficient clearance for the button to move relative to the handle. The locking arms 204 and 206 each include a clasp 208 that slidably engages a respective track 210 (FIG. 28) formed on the handle housing 170 to allow the button to slide back and forth. Catch 208 also inhibits disengagement of release button 196 from handle housing 170 by engaging lip 211 ( FIG. 39 ) formed at the end of respective track 210 . As described below, elastomeric cover 200 extends from button base 198 to handle housing 170 and conceals extension 202, spring 205, body 167, and base of plunger 134 from the user's view.

The spring 205 biases the push button 196 and the plunger 134 (the function of which has been described above in the "Pivot Structure" section) to opposite directions. Referring to Figures 34 and 35, the plunger 134 includes a cavity 139 formed in the plunger body 137 and capable of receiving the spring 205 and inner surfaces 139, 141 which are located in the body 167 (Fig. 39) when the plunger 134 is in the extended position. on the base member 135. Spring 205 biases the button from the cartridge, returning the button to its normal position after release by the user.

Referring again to FIG. 41A , when the user pushes the button 196 forward, the pusher arms 192 and 194 can apply sufficient force to the latches 162 and 164 to loosen the interference fit between the connecting member 18 and the projection 166 . Once the push rod arms 192 and 194 force the ends 174 and 176 of the latches 162 and 164 beyond the edges 188 and 190 of the protrusion 166, the latches 162, 164 spring back to their unflexed positions, thereby pushing the cartridge 12 off the handle 14. out.

Referring now to FIG. 42, the release button 196 is shown in its rest position. Cover 200 extends from button base 198 to surface 306 to hide spring 205, pusher arms 192 and 194, and the base of plunger 134 from the user's view. Referring now to FIG. 43 , when the release button 196 is actuated, the push lever arms 192 and 194 are pushed forward and the cover 200 is snapped between the button base 198 and the surface 306 . When the button 196 is released, the spring 205 urges the button 196 back to its original position and the cover 200 returns to its unfastened condition.

42 and 44, preferably, the contact angle _φ1 between the handle housing 170 and the cover 200 is at most about 110 degrees when the button is in its rest position and the cover is fully restored. This facilitates controlled closure of the cover 200 when the button 136 is activated. Contact angles greater than 110 degrees may cause the cover 200 to slide over the surface of the handle housing 170 instead of snapping. Due to the shape of the handle housing 170, the angle φ varies along the perimeter of the cover 200 from the maximum contact angle φ ₁ (e.g., about 110 degrees) at the center of the cover 200 (FIG. 42) to at each side of the cover (FIG. 44). ) minimum contact angle φ ₂ (eg, about 50 degrees).

The material forming the cover can be selected as desired. Suitable materials include, for example, elastomers such as thermoplastic elastomers, silicones and latexes. The thickness of the cover may be between about 0.3mm and 0.6mm, such as about 0.5mm.

Referring now to Figures 28, 28A and 39, to assemble the handle connection structure 11 of the handle 14, the body 167 is inserted into the handle 722 so that the locking arms 171 and 173 lock the surface 306 at the portion 722 of the handle housing 170 (see also Fig. 42 and 43). A spring 205 is placed on a cylindrical extension 202 extending from the release button 196 (Fig. 32). The spring 205 is also inserted into the cavity 139 of the plunger 134 . The plunger-spring-button assembly is inserted into the rear of body 167 such that plunger 134 is received by slot 181 and pusher arms 192 and 194 are received by slots 177 and 179 respectively (FIG. 39). The locking arms 204 and 206 of the release button 196 are positioned in the track 210 of the handle housing 170 .

The materials forming the handle housing 170, body 167, connecting member 18, release button and plunger 134 can be selected as desired. Preferably, the handle housing 170 is made of metal such as zinc alloy. However, the handle housing can also be made of other materials, including plastics (e.g., coated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and plastics with metal inserts, such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,822,869, incorporated herein by reference. . The handle housing may be formed using any suitable method, including die casting, investment casting and die casting. Materials suitable for forming the cartridge housing, circular extension, button, connecting member and plunger include thermoplastics. For example, the handle interconnect member including body 167 and protrusion 166 (FIG. 29) and plunger may be made of acetal, while the button base 198 including pusher arms 204, 206 and extension 202 may be made of polypropylene. Suitable forming methods include molding, such as injection moulding.

Referring to FIGS. 45 and 46 , the handle 14 includes a single slight bend 720 at the end that is curved on the same side as the main blade 28 . The handle 14 is divided into two parts 722 , 724 providing an empty area between them for access to the finger pad 726 on the concave side of the bend 720 . When trimming sideburns, other whiskers, or hair on the user's skin 730, the slight curvature 720 and finger pad 726 on the same side as the main blade and the finger pad 726 access provided by the bifurcated handle allow the user to place their thumb or The other fingers are placed flush with or directly below the trimming blade 504 , which is located at the corner 728 shown in FIG. 45 . The finger pads 726 are made of an elastomeric material and have protrusions to provide a good engagement. Inner surfaces 732 , 734 of portions 22 , 724 are opened to provide access to finger pad 726 .

In use, the shaver rotates the handle 14 180 degrees from its usual grip position so that the thumb rests on the finger pad 726 ( FIGS. 45 and 46 ) near the side of the main guard 22 and turns the rear of the blade unit The area of skin to be shaved is moved, wherein the trimming blade 504 is aligned with the edge of the hair to be trimmed, for example where the bottom corners of the sideburns, the corners of the beard, or under the nose need to be cleaned when shaving in this way, i.e. other methods Difficult to shave places. The blade unit 16 is in its rest position relative to the connecting member 18, so that when the user presses the rear portion of the blade unit 16 and the cutting edge 536 against the skin and then moves it sideways over the skin to shave hair, the blade unit does not wrap around. Pivot. Hair clippings and other beard debris that are introduced into the area behind the blades 536 during trimming pass through the debris removal channels 548 in the housing 20 and the aligned debris removal slots 546 in the lower wall during trimming, while rinsing with water , for example between shaving or trimming operations, the entire area and the debris removal channels and slots are easy to clean. Cut hair and beard shavings can also pass through channel 549 behind channel 548 and above lower wall 512 .

The recessed location of the cutting edge 536 of the trimming blade 504 relative to the rear wall 506 of the blade unit avoids cutting the user's skin during cleaning of the cartridge 12 and razor 10 . Including the trimming blade and trimming guard on a common assembly attached to the razor blade unit housing facilitates precise positioning of the trimming guard relative to the trimming blades to provide precise trimming blade tangential angles and trimming blade spans .

Claims (32)

1. A razor blade unit comprising: a plastic housing having a front, a rear and two sides extending from the front to the rear, the housing having a length extending from one side to the other, one or more shaving blades disposed between said front portion and said rear portion, said one or more blades having a blade length extending along respective one or more parallel blade axes, A guard at the front of the housing, the guard comprising an elastomeric member extending along a guard axis parallel to the respective one or more blade axes, the elastomeric member having a length of the guard axis that is greater than or equal to the blade length, wherein the elastomeric member also extends along a width axis that extends perpendicular to the guard axis and at a distance from the housing the direction of the rear towards the front of the housing, wherein a leading elastomeric portion of the elastomeric member extends beyond the front edge of the plastic housing front, the leading elastomeric portion is forward of a rear elastomeric portion formed by the plastic housing Supporting, the width of the leading elastomeric portion along the width axis exceeds the width of the supported rear elastomeric portion along the width axis. 2. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member extends to a side of the housing. 3. The shaving blade unit of claim 2, wherein each of the two sides has a corresponding outwardly directed outer surface, the elastomeric member extending beyond the outer side of the housing. 4. The shaving blade unit of claim 3, wherein said elastomeric member forms a protrusion extending outwardly from at least one of said sides. 5. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member comprises an elastomeric fin. 6. The shaving blade unit of claim 5, wherein said fins extend along a fin axis parallel to said respective one or more blade axes, said fins having a length, said length being greater than or equal to said blade length. 7. The shaving blade unit of claim 5, wherein the fins are manufactured from a material having a Shore A hardness of between 28 and 60. 8. The shaving blade unit of claim 5, wherein the elastomeric member includes a plurality of elastomeric fins. 9. The shaving blade unit of claim 8, wherein said fins are arranged in parallel rows, said fins extending along respective fin axes parallel to said respective one or more blade axes, at least Some of the fins have a length along the associated fin axis that is greater than the blade length. 10. The shaving blade unit of claim 9, wherein all of the fins have a length along the associated fin axis that is greater than the blade length. 11. The shaving blade unit of claim 9, wherein the fins have tapered lengths. 12. The shaving blade unit of claim 11, wherein the fin length closest to the blade is greater than the blade length, and the fin length decreases with increasing distance from the blade. 13. The shaving blade unit of claim 8, wherein at least some of said fins have tips of increasing height relative to a plane passing through the associated cutting edge of said one or more razor blades, said The increase in height is from fins further away from the one or more razor blades to fins closer to the blades. 14. The shaving blade unit of claim 13, wherein at least some of the fins have tips above the plane and some of the fins have tips below the plane. 15. The shaving blade unit of claim 13, wherein the remainder of said fins have tips that are uniformly positioned relative to said plane. 16. The shaving blade unit of claim 8, wherein the fins have converging surfaces having an included angle of between 8 and 14 degrees. 17. The shaving blade unit of claim 8, wherein the distance from the first fin to the last fin is between 2.5 and 6 mm. 18. The shaving blade unit of claim 8, wherein the fins have a tip height of between 0.4 and 0.9 mm. 19. The shaving blade unit of claim 8, wherein the elastomeric member includes at least 10 fins. 20. The shaving blade unit of claim 19, wherein the elastomeric member includes 15 fins. 21. The shaving blade unit of claim 19, wherein the elastomeric member includes twenty fins. 22. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, said shaving blade unit further comprising a clip for holding said one or more shaving blades, said clip passing through the The opening between the front and rear of the housing. 23. The shaving blade unit of claim 22, wherein the first and second ends of the clip pass through corresponding first and second openings in the housing. 24. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric member is flexible. 25. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, wherein the guiding elastomeric portion is unsupported along its length. 26. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, wherein the guiding elastomeric portion is sufficiently flexible to flex upon contact with a user's skin. 27. The shaving blade unit of claim 26, wherein the guiding elastomeric portion is sufficiently flexible to conform to the contours of a user's skin during shaving. 28. The shaving blade unit of claim 26, wherein the guiding elastomeric portion has a first thickness adjacent the sides of the housing and tapers to a second thinner thickness adjacent the central region of the guard. thickness. 29. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the elastomeric member varies along the guard axis. 30. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is connected to a pivot structure to allow the one or more blades to pivot relative to the handle. 31. The shaving blade unit of claim 1, further comprising a trimming assembly attached to the housing. 32. The shaving blade unit of claim 31, wherein the trimming assembly comprises a trimming blade.

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